I admit bias in favor of this beer. The first time I had it, I was deep in the heart of the Baraboo Bluffs with a good friend during a warm summer rain storm. It was like a moment from Last of the Mohicans and it greatly added to my enjoyment of the hex nut.

That, however, was more than 5 years ago and this beer still stands up to my maturing taste buds.

I'll admit that I enjoy it better on tap and might rate the smell a bit higher. It's still quite delicious in a bottle. This one had a freshness date on it. Good.

Sweet nutty malts are the main flavor here and I'm a fan. The finish is crisp and grassy with a slight bitterness.

The color is a reassuring deep brown. This is not a beer with a color complex. It is quite brown indeed.

The smell is simple and malty sweet, also quite nutty.

Although, not a very complicated brew, it gets the job done. Very drinkable.

S: Sour English maltiness with a pronounced nut, earth and wood character.

M: Full side of light body. Pretty smooth. Medium carbonation.

T: I was delighted to find that the nose didn't sell a flavor that wasn't there. I got wood, nut, sour malt, caramel. It was hearty and good. There is a slight bitter chocolate there and the sweet and sour make you feel that there may be a hint of honey.

D: Lovely brew. It reminds me of a nut brown I used to drink back in college in the UK (22 years ago). I love it when a low ABV and simple beer is well done and has some character.

Poured into a pint glass, this beer has a very dark brown, almost black looking body with an off-white head. Aroma is of toffee, caramel and toasted malts. Mouthfeel is medium bodied with low to medium carbonation. Flavors of toasted bread and nuts lead to a sweet finish. Very nice beer for a brisk fall day.

12-oz bottle from a Pub Pak, freshness date "011205. Pours a rusty amber color. I'm not crazy about the smell-there's something I don't like, but I can't put my finger on it (maybe it's the water...). Taste is a bit chocolaty and toffeeish, quite nice.

Overall, not a bad brown, and pretty easy to drink. I certainly wouldn't say no to having another one.

The Goose Island Nut Brown Ale pours from the bottle a deep dark cola brown with a nice inch of bubbly khaki head sitting atop the brew. Dark red hues push out from the sides of the glass when held up to the light. Aromas are a nice mix of fresh roasted nuts, chocolate and caramel sweetness. Quite rich with a lovely herbal, citric hoppy background. I'm really enjoying the nose on this one!

First sip brings a roasty malt swirl with notes of cocoa, caramel and a nice nutty character. Subtle burnt notes weave in and out. On the way down I get a nice complimentary herbal, citric hop that works quite well in the overall brew. A roasty, toasty brown ale that really hits the spot for me.

Mouthfeel is medium bodied with a nice creaminess and active carbonation. This one goes down easily and packs in plenty of flavor as well. I could easily see myself sitting down to a session with this one. Another tasty Goose brew that I have neglected for too long!

Medium- to full-bodied with an even mouthfeel and meaty, malty dextrin backbone. Not overly sweet, but definitely malty. Caramel, chocolate, touch of day old coffee way in the back, light raisin, earthy, light metallic. All the malt flavours are smoothed together with a bit of roasted headlining and a soft tea-like herbal hop character providing some balance. Esters towards the end. Pretty clean finish, some burnt notes, a tad dry.

This is one of those "all body" beers., but a pretty decent stab at an English Brown ale. Would have liked a bit more depth of flavour.

Presentation: 12 oz brown twist off long neck bottle with a “Best When Consumed By” date on the back label.

Appearance: Decent head that drops down to a thin light tan lace, clear and deep mahogany hue.

Smell: Sweet aroma with a caramel and cake like maltiness with a mild fruitiness.

Taste: Sturdy medium body with a smoothness that ends with a snappy dryness. Toasted and caramel flavours flex all over the palate with a dark sweet bread and mild husk. Hops drop an even keel bitterness with a light earthy herbal flavour. Faint fruitiness and estery alcohol are within the malt sweetness. Long lingering dry malt character pulling in an almost puckering dryness.

Notes: A good drinking brown ale, more of an English style (sweet) brown ale. If you are into malty brown ales this one will do you right. Good pairing with chocolate and / or caramel sweets.

A good drinking brown ale, more of an English style (sweet) brown ale. If you are into malty brown ales this one will do you right. Good pairing with chocolate and / or caramel sweets.

This Goose pours a clear, red, mahogany color, with a frothy, beige head that retains decently, and leaves some wallpaper sheets of lace on the Newcastle pint glass.
Aroma is toffee, caramel, and roasted malt. Hints of walnut and honeydew melon lurk in the background.
Mouthfeel is creamy and carbonated to a medium degree.
Taste is excellent. This has to be one of the finest brown ales produced in North America. Hazelnut liquer, honeydew melon, and chocolate covered peanuts, are all present in the body of this ale. Hops presence is undrestated, but is very fresh and fruity when it peeks through.
An excellent brown ale in all respects. Another fine brew by the folks at Goose Island.